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Thread ID: 86955 2008-02-03 02:47:00 Can I ground myself by touching the water tap? Renmoo (66) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
636855 2008-02-03 09:50:00 Awww, I just thought of a good joke in response to the thread title:

Can I ground myself by touching the water tap?
Only if your parents said you're not allowed to touch it.

And standing on a roof doesn't make you look stupid, hell, I'm doing it........wait nvm I'm not allowed to go there
--Wolf-- (128)
636856 2008-02-03 09:51:00 So basically the answer is to connect yourself to the laptop via a wrist strap (particularly if climate, clothing or carpets are causing you to get zaps off large metallic objects) and get on with tinkering with the laptop innards. Yes? Mercury (1316)
636857 2008-02-03 09:56:00 Got it in one. :thumbs: Even works on the roof. And boats. And planes.

For absolute safety, you could work submerged in salt water while wearing graphite clothing, but this may be going too far, and introduces a few secondary problems.
R2x1 (4628)
636858 2008-02-03 10:04:00 For absolute safety, you could work submerged in salt water while wearing graphite clothing, while standing on the roof, but this may be going too far, and introduces a few secondary problems.

There we go. Added safety.
--Wolf-- (128)
636859 2008-02-03 10:05:00 But will it work in our bus?

A few years back I was doing a computer degree - must finish it sometime, 1 paper to go.

Our hardward lecturer was going through previous years exam papers with us. He came to the multi choice question of:

Will a wrist strap prevent damage to computers? Yes or No.

My answer was that as the question was written the answer had to be No. Reason being that if it was lying on the bench unused or hanging unused on a hook it wouldn't work.

He gave me a really dirty look and remained silent.

When our exam came along I nearly burst out laughing. There was the multi-choice question:
Will a wrist strap, if used correctly, prevent damage to computers? Yes or No.
Mercury (1316)
636860 2008-02-03 10:07:00 LOL

And will it actually prevent damage from a slipped screwdriver if used correctly?
R2x1 (4628)
636861 2008-02-03 10:10:00 I'd stirred enough by that point so didn't ask. Mercury (1316)
636862 2008-02-03 10:11:00 I'm missing the joke :( --Wolf-- (128)
636863 2008-02-03 10:31:00 A pity Mercury. A few years having passed now, you might be forgiven - a bit. R2x1 (4628)
636864 2008-02-03 20:59:00 OK, all stupidity, misinformed and half-arsed answers aside, this is how to do it with a reasonable guarantee of reliability and safety .

Buy a wrist strap from DSE or Jaycar, put the band on your wrist and attach the clip to any exposed metal on the laptop . It can be easier and more reliable if you use a printer lead or other external port lead with a metal shell as an extension for the clip point so that you don't disturb the ground clip while working on the laptop .

While this will provide charge equalisation, accidental disconnections could still cause problems so it is preferable that both the laptop and yourself are actually free of any static charges .

This can be achieved by touching any metal object that is connected to the body of earth . There may be nothing grounded handy to your preferred working location but you can bring a ground to you by plugging an extension lead into a convenient power outlet, but leaving the switch off .

take the socket end to your work location, plug any direct-mains powered (no plug-pack) electrical appliance or tool that has exposed metal on the outside into the extension lead socket and touch that metal before starting work and again after any interruption such as comfort stops, coffee breaks etc .

If you were not concerned you wouldn't have asked, so this will do it for you and guarantee a 100% static free working environment .

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
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